Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-17
CONGRESSIONAL.
Senator Cameron's Bill to Increase the
Naval Establishment Amended and
Passed by the Senate.
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Reports the Fishers Retaliation Bill.
EuIogIes on General Logan.
XIX CONGRESS.
TILE SENATE

Turpie, elected Senator from the state OF
Indiana for six years commencing March
4,lsS7. The certificate is signed by the
Governor, whose signature is certified by
the Secretary of State. Referred, on mo-
ton of Senator Hoar, to the committee on
privileges and elections.
Senator Mcmillan from the committee
on commerce reported back the House
river and harbor bill, with amendments.
He gave notice that he would move to
take it up tomorrow after the morning
hour.
On motion of Senator Everts, the print
ing of the testimony being taken in the
Texas investigation was ordered.
The resolution offered yesterday by
Senator Hoar to have the committee on
privileges and elections inquire also as to
whether the District Attorney or Marshal
of the Western district of Texas had been
attempting to obstruct the investigation
or to intimidate witnesses was taken up.
Senator Coke moved to amend the reso-
luton by requiring notice of the tnvesti-
CATION to be given to those officials, and
that witnesses may be summoned IN their
defence. He had no objection to this in
yestjgstion, but he knew that the informa-
ton on which it was based was absolute
" false. All there was in it was that
some of the witnesses summoned to
Washington were afterwards subpGnaed
to appear before the grand jury at Aus
tin, had been brought there and testified
and were now in Washington.
Senator Hoar sent to the clerks desk
communication from the Department of
Justice, including copy OF
telegram from the District Attor-
aey of Western Texas to the
Attorney General, asking him to have
the chairman of the committee wire to
MIN the names of important government
witnesses who refuse to return to Texas
and held them until subrgnaed.
Senator Coke explained that telegram
to mean the compelling of all witnesses
here to appear before the grand Jury at
Austin. The District Attorney was sim
ply performing his duty actively and
fairly.
Senator Hoar moved to lay Senator
Coke's amendment on the table. Agreed
to-yeas, 80: nays, %; party vote.
Senator Hoar's resolution was then
adopted by party vote, so to 10.
The Senate then resumed consdera
ton of the Cameron bill TO in
crease the naval establishment. Sen
ator MaXey supported the bill. He
was not only ia favor Of build
ing war vessels, but of the fortitica-
ton of every seaport in the country. He
knew this was going to cost money, but
if there was any force in the maxim, "ln
time of peace, prepare for war;" this was
the time for putting it in practice, when
the treasury WAS overlooking, and when
money was being absolutely wasted.
Question was take on the amendment
offered Yesterday by Senator Hale, and 1t
was adopted without division. Other
amendments were adopted and the bill
was passed.
The Senate then took up the Hale bill,
to provide for an increase OF the naval
establishment.
Senator Butler moved to amend by in
serting after the words "heavily armored
vessels" the words ''for sea service" and
spoke in support of the amendment.
Senator Hale opposed the amendment.
He admitted that If there were to be great
sea fights again, in bill framed for that
purpose he would not object TO providing
for half a dozen such ships as the Senator
from South Carolina desired to provide
for in his amendment. Halt dozen
such ships to put the Amerl-
can navy in respectable attitude
as compared with foreign navies, would
cost from $50, 10000 to $50, 000, 600.
This bill was confined strictly to de-
fensive, not aggressive purposes. He
was for defensive purposes. After that,
if armored ships were desired, he could
favor them; but the two features on
which Congress was now proceeding were
dom
other nations to engage IN war with the
United States, because their commerce
would be q prey of these cruisers-and
defenses to prevent foreign fleets from
bombarding the great cities of the United
States and laying them under contribu-
ton. by having such engines and naval
structures as would beat and scatter
these fleets.
Senator Ingalls, expressed his belief
that the floating batteries provided for in
the bill would be practically useless. He
rather favored the construction of fast
cruisers to prey upon the commerce of
the enemy. The Senate had been within
the last few weeks appropriating millions
on millions, not for tribute, but for de-
Tense. Wealthy men, who cared not how
the money was TO go. had been doing so.
He hoped the Senate would pause in its
headlong career long enough to have some
tangible information as to how much
money there was in the Treasury and how
far these bills would affect the surplus, |
about which there was so much agitation.
He should be glad now before being called
upon to vote for the SIS, zoe, 600 or SIS, 1000 !
900 in this bill in addition to the S2l ,0O0,-
600 voted for ordnance for coast defenses
to have statement from the chairman OF
the committee on appropriations as to
how long the "Fountain OF Pactolus"
would afford the golden stream necessary
TO meet the appropriations which the Sen
ate was making by unnumbered millions.
Senator Allison, chairman OF the com
mittse on appropriations, calcul%ted
that the annual expenditure under all
these bills would not exceed Sl2,OOO,OOO,
because the expenditures would spread
over five years. These bills, therefore,
did not materially affect the question OF
the surplus in the Treasury.
After further debate the bill went over
without action, Senator Hale Stating that
he would ask for vote on it tomorrow.
Senator Blair offered resolutions in
honor of his late colleague, Senator Pike, !
and addressed the Senate in eulOgy OF the |